Featured Release This Week From J Mascis + Tracks Top 30 Playlist

The shorthand take on J Mascis is that his solo albums are his more mellow side. The less mellow side would be his work with the band that he co-founded in 1984, Dinosaur Jr. (originally just Dinosaur). The latest solo record is Elastic Days, recorded at Bisquiteen, Mascis' own studio in his hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts. J plays most of the instruments, and showcases his more melodic side on his vocals. Mascis comments on this through his record company: "I took some singing lessons and do vocal warm-ups now....The biggest difference with this record might have to do with the drums. I'd just gotten a new drum set I was really excited about. I don't have too many drum outlets at the moment, so I played a lot more drums than I'd originally planned. I just kept playing. I'd play the acoustic guitar parts then head right to the drums."

Here are the Top 30 new album releases played on Studio One Tracks for the week ending Nov. 25, 2018: